People | University of Moratuwa Faculty of Information Technology Featured Pearsonalities Related to UoM "Arthur C. Clarke, CBE, FRAS, Sri Lankabhimanya, was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist. He was devoted to making sure the next generation would receive the best education possible not only by influencing young minds through his writing but also working in formal education. He served as the Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka in 1979-2002" "Philip Revatha (Ray) Wijewardene (1924 – 2010) was an extraordinary Sri Lankan who was called a Renaissance Man who excelled in many different areas of human endeavour: agriculture, aviation, engineering design, inventions, renewable energy technologies and water sports. He served as the Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa from 2002 to 2007" Staff at UoM " University of Moratuwa is a top class technological university in the region whose name is strengthened by its highly qualified academic staff members.

Academic Staff members of the University of Moratuwa are world renown for their contribution to the world of science through their knowledge and expertise in various fields such as Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology. " TOP LINKS Sir Arthur Charles Clarke | University of Moratuwa User Login Sir Arthur Charles Clarke Born in Minehead, Somerset, England, in 1917, Arthur Charles Clarke was educated at Huish's Grammar School, Taunton, and King's College, London. He worked in the British Exchequer and Audit Department and served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force before turning a full time author in 1950. His interest in diving and underwater exploration led him to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he first arrived in 1954. After exploring the island for several months during 1956, he decided to settle down there. He later adopted a Sri Lankan family headed by Hector and Valerie Ekanayake, whose Colombo house he shared, and with whom he pioneered diving and underwater tourism in Sri Lanka through their company, Underwater Safaris. He also played an active role as a public intellectual and as a patron of art, science and higher education.

He founded the Ceylon Astronomical Association in 1959. In 1979, the government appointed him as Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, the country's leading technological university. He held this position for 23 years until 2002 when he resigned due to health reasons. In 1984, the government named a newly established Institute for Modern Technologies in his honour, but Clarke was never associated with its research, administration or management. For over half a century, Clarke wrote and broadcast extensively promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. The late Lakshman Kadirgamar, foreign minister of Sri Lanka, once called him a 'one man cheering squad for Sri Lanka'. From 1980 to 1994, Clarke hosted three international television series: Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World, Arthur C Clarke's World of Strange Powers and Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious Universe. His segments to camera were all filmed in Sri Lanka, generating invaluable promotion for Sri Lanka on television screens around the world. Although he lived in Sri Lanka for 52 years, he always remained a British citizen.

In 1975, he was granted the country's first 'Resident Guest' status, an immigration category that allowed accomplished foreigners to live in the country. Clarke never sought nor received Sri Lankan citizenship. Sri Lanka bestowed on him three high level national honours, viz: n Vidya Jyothi ('Luminary of Science') award from the President of Sri Lanka, 1986 nSahithyaratna ('Gem of Literature') lifetime achievement award from National Arts Council, Sri Lanka, 2005. n Lankabhimanya ('Pride of Lanka'), highest civilian honour from the President of Sri Lanka, 2005. Clarke also received many more awards and honours from around the world, including several honorary doctorates. He shared with Stanley Kubrick an Oscar nomination in 1969 for his screenplay of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his role in globalising communications by inventing the communications satellite (1945). He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for 'services to literature'.

In 1996, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid No 4923 in his honour, while scientists at the University of Monash, Australia, named a newly discovered dinosaur species as Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei in 2003. In later years, Clarke was wheel-chaired owing to Post Polio Syndrome, but remained active as a writer to the very end. He died on 19 March 2008 aged 90, and was buried at the General Cemetery Colombo in a secular funeral. His last novel, titled The Last Theorem, was published posthumously in August 2008.

- From an article in "Sunday Times" TOP LINKS Education in Sri Lanka | Pearltrees Education in Sri Lanka 29 november 2013 Education in Sri Lanka With a literacy rate of 92.5%,[232] Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations.[314] Its youth literacy rate stands at 98%,[315] computer literacy rate at 35%,[316] and primary school enrolment rate at over 99%.[317] An education system which dictates 9 years of compulsory schooling for every child is in place. The free education system established in 1945,[318] is a result of the initiative of C. W. W. Kannangara and A.

Ratnayake.[319][320] It is one of the few countries in the world that provide universal free education from primary to tertiary stage.[321] Kannangara led the establishment of the Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (Central Schools) in different parts of the country in order to provide education to Sri Lanka's rural children.[316] In 1942 a special education committee proposed extensive reforms to establish an efficient and quality education system for the people. However in the 1980s changes to this system saw the separation the of administration of schools between the central government and the provincial government. Thus the elite National Schools are controlled directly by the Ministry of Education and the provincial schools by the provincial government.

Sri Lanka has approximately 9675 government schools, 817 private schools and Pirivenas.[232] The number of public universities in Sri Lanka is 15.[322] However, lack of responsiveness of the education system to labour market requirements, disparities in access to quality education, lack of an effective linkage between secondary and tertiary education remain major challenges for the education sector.[323] A number of private, degree awarding institutions have emerged in recent times to fill in these gaps. But still, the participation at tertiary level education hovers around 5.1%.[324] The proposed private university bill has been withdrawn by the Higher Education Ministry after university students’ heavy demonstrations and resistance.[325] The British science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke (most famous as the author of 2001 A Space Odyssey) served as Chancellor of Moratuwa University in Sri Lanka from 1979 to 2002. Arthur C Clarke Evolution of the book Arthur C Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke was a hugely successful British Science Fiction Author, most famous for His Space Odyssey series. Arthur was also an inventor and futurist and chairman of the British Interplanetary Society.

Arthur was born in the town of Minehead in the county of Somerset, England. Arthur had a passion for Stargazing as a child and reading American Science Fiction pulp magazines. After leaving secondary school he was unable to afford a university degree and so managed to get a job for the Board of education as a pensions Auditor. Author served in the Royal Air Force during the second World War as a Radar specialist and was involved in the British Early Warning Radar System, contributing to the success of the RAF during the Battle for Britain. Arthur eventually rose through the ranks to become a Corporal Radar Instructor at RAF Yatesbury, after this he was promoted to Pilot Officer and then Flying Officer and was eventually demobilised with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. After the Second Word War ended he studied at the Kings College in London where he graduated with a first class degree in Mathematics and Physics. In 1947 Arthur became the chairman of the british Interplanetary Society where he contibuted enourmously to the concept of Geostationary Satellites and it was Arthur that worked out they would make ideal Telecommunication Relays.

Arthur was already writing books at this stage however they were not only science fiction but also non fiction in nature with the most notable being "The Exploration of Space" and "the Promise of Space". It was in 1946 that his first published short story "loophole" appeared in Astounding Science Fiction which was quickly followed by "Rescue Party". In 1948 Arthur wrote a story fo a BBC competition called "The Sentinel", this story did not win however it later became the basis for his hugely popular 2001 A Space Odyssey. In 1951 Arthur devoted his full time to writing, which included childrens books and contributions the the "Dan Dare" series of comic books. In 1956 Arthur Emmigrated to Sri Lanka, primarily to pursue his passion for Scuba diving (he was a member of the Underwater Explorers Club), and Arthur remained their until he passed away in 2008. He was an avid Futurist and made many predictions, many of which were published in 1962 titled "Profiles of the Future" which was written as a timetable detailing Inventions and Ideas all the way up to the year 2100.

He was named in 1986 by the Science Fiction Writers of America as a "Grand Master" and in 1989 he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth the 2nd as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and also became the Chancellor of the International Space University and was also the Chancellor of the Moratuwa University in Sr Lanka. Arthur C Clarke will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of Modern Science Fiction, the Creator of 2001, A Space Odyssey and a remarkably accurate Futurist.

Bibliography The Sands of Mars (1951) Islands in the Sky (1952) Against the Fall of Night (1953) Childhood's End (1953) The City and the Stars (1956) The Deep Range (1957) A Fall of Moondust (1961) Dolphin Island (1963) The Hammer of God (1993) Richter 10 (1996) The Light of Other Days (2000) Time's Eye (2003) Across the Sea of Stars (1959) From the Ocean, From the Stars (1962) An Arthur C. Clarke Omnibus (1965) Prelude to Mars (1965) The Lion of Comarre and Against the Fall of Night (1968) An Arthur C.

Clarke Second Omnibus (1968) Four Great SF Novels (1978) The Space Trilogy (2001) Tales from the White Hart (1957) The Other Side of the Sky (1958) Tales of Ten Worlds (1962) The Nine Billion Names of God (1967) Of Time and Stars (1972) The Wind from the Sun (1972) The Best of Arthur C. Clarke (1973) The Sentinel (1983) Tales From Planet Earth (1990) More Than One Universe (1991) The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke (2001) Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. - Earnest Hemmingway Borella Kanatte General Cemetery – Colombo, Sri Lanka | Atlas Obscura See more things to do in Sri Lanka » Located in the suburban city of Borella, those buried at the cemetery include soldiers killed in both World War I and World War II.

The 48-acre cemetery features sections for the many faiths of Colombo’s diverse international population. Hindus, Buddhists, Shintos, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and non-denominational Christians all have their own burial sections. There are four crematoriums, and elaborate temples and mausoleums dot the lush landscape. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of paranormal activity at the cemetery. Caretakers have reported seeing ghostly meetings (called “resveem”) at a crossroads where four pathways meet. According to one worker, a group of “rationalists” once attempted to spend the night in the graveyard. They only lasted for a short while, before they were hit with stones thrown from ghostly hands. And there is the tale of a nattily dressed man in a white suit, who lures workers to a mortuary and then disappears into a wall, causing workers to faint and fall. The cemetery’s most famous Western resident is British-born Sir Arthur C. Clarke, who moved to Sri Lanka in 1956, when it was still called Ceylon.

An inventor, scuba diver, ecologist, teacher, futurist, and author of science-fiction masterpieces such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, he was also active in Sri Lankan affairs. He served as Chancellor of Moratuwa University, the country’s “most sought after technological college,” from 1979-2002. Clarke was famous for his accurate predictions of numerous technological advances in the 20th century, including the mass production of desktop computers and the rise of online banking and online shopping. He also hosted television shows, including Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World and Arthur C. Clarke’s World of Strange Powers. He died in 2008. Today, the lovely Kanatte General Cemetery is a wonderful place to visit. But beware, you may run into fellow travelers, both living and dead. Arthur C. Clarke | Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Science Education Arthur C. Clarke: A Biography adapted from the biography found on the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation website Arthur C. Clarke’s legacy bridges the worlds of the arts and the sciences. His work ranged from scientific discovery to science fiction, from technical application to entertainment.

As an engineer, as a futurist, and as a humanist, Clarke has influenced numerous artists, scientists, and engineers working today, and through his broad body of work, and through the organizations keeping his legacy alive like the Clarke Foundation and this Institute, he continues to inspire future generations around the world. Biographical Sketch Arthur Charles Clarke was born to an English farming family in the seaside town of Minehead, in the county of Somerset in southwestern England, on December 16, 1917. As a child, he enjoyed stargazing and reading American science fiction magazines, which sparked his lifelong enthusiasm for space sciences. After moving to London in 1936, Clarke was able to pursue his interest further by joining the British Interplanetary Society (BIS.) He worked with astronautic material in the Society, contributed to the BIS Bulletin, and began writing science fiction. I’m sometimes asked how I would like to be remembered. I’ve had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer, space promoter and science populariser. Of all these, I want to be remembered most as a writer — one who entertained readers, and, hopefully, stretched their imagination as well. —Arthur C.

Clarke After World War II erupted in 1939, Arthur Clarke joined the Royal Air Force and served as a radar instructor and technician from 1941 to 1946. He was an officer in charge of the first radar talk-down equipment, the Ground Controlled Approach, during its experimental trials. The technique is used by aircraft control to guide aircraft to a safe landing based on radar images during inclement weather. Clarke’s only non-science-fiction novel, Glide Path, was based on his experiences in this project. After the war, Clarke returned to London, where he was awarded a Fellowship at King’s College, London, where he obtained a first class honors degree in Physics and Mathematics in 1948. He also returned to the British Interplanetary Society, and served as the Society’s president in 1946-47 and 1951-1953. Clarke moved to Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) in 1956, largely to pursue his interest in underwater exploration along the country’s coast as well as on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

He lived first in the coastal village of Unawatuna and then in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city. In 1962, Clarke was diagnosed with polio, which reduced his diving activities. In 1988, he was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, and he was largely confined to a wheelchair until he passed away at the age of 90 on March 19, 2008. Arthur Clarke’s remarkable lifetime work was recognized by both the country of his birth and his adopted home country. In 1988, Queen Elizabeth II honored Clarke with a Knighthood, formally conferred by Prince Charles in Sri Lanka two years later. In 2005, Clarke was awarded Sri Lankabhimanya (The Pride of Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honor. Arthur C. Clarke, the Engineer Arthur Clarke’s experiences during World War II and education in physics and mathematics made him well poised to make significant contributions in engineering after the war. In 1945, Clarke published his landmark scholarly paper “Extra-Terrestrial Relays – Can Rocket Stations Give World-wide Radio Coverage?” in the British magazine Wireless World ( download PDF ).

In the paper, Clarke set out the first principles of global communication via satellites placed in geostationary orbits. A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth above the equator so that the period of the orbit (the time it takes the satellite to complete one orbit around the Earth) is the same as the Earth’s rotational period (the time it takes the Earth to rotate once around its axis.) This means that to an observer located on the surface of the Earth, the satellite appears not to move in the sky but stay at a fixed position. The idea of these kinds of orbits was originally proposed in 1928, but Clarke was the first to suggest that geostationary orbits would be ideal for establishing worldwide telecommunication relays. Since a satellite in a geostationary orbit does not appear to move in the sky, antennas on the ground do not have to track the satellite across the sky but can be pointed permanently to one location, which makes communications between ground stations and satellites easier. Over the next decades, Clarke’s discovery evolved from his original, pre-computer era idea of using large, manned space stations to act as relays, to the small, unmanned, robotic telecommunications satellites used today.

During this time, Clarke worked with scientists and engineers in the United States in the development of spacecraft and launch systems. After the launch of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957, the discussion of the use of outer space by different nations of the Earth become an important global issue. Clarke was involved in these discussions by, e.g., addressing the United Nations during their deliberations on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. In the 1950s, Clarke started corresponding with Dr. Harry Wexler, the chief of the Scientific Services Division of the U.S. Weather Bureau, about satellite applications for weather forecasting. These discussions led to Dr. Wexler being the leading force behind a new branch of meteorology, where rockets and satellites were used for meteorological research and operations. Clarke saw his vision of global telecommunications via satellites start to become reality in 1964 with the launch of the first geostationary communication satellite Syncom 3, which was used to broadcast the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to the United States. Today’s world relies so heavily on global satellite telecommunications networks that it would be difficult to imagine what the world would look like without them.

Arthur Clarke’s engineering work brought him numerous awards and honors, including the 1982 Marconi International Fellowship, a gold medal of the Franklin Institute, the Vikram Sarabhai Professorship of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, the Lindbergh Award, and a Fellowship of King’s College, London. Today, the geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) above the equator, which Clarke first described as useful for satellite communication relays, is named the Clarke Orbit by the International Astronomical Union. Arthur C. Clarke, the Futurist As important as Arthur Clarke’s achievements in engineering were to the modern world, he is at least as well known as a futurist, trying to predict what the world of tomorrow might look like, and as a popularizer of science, helping make science accessible to everyone. He is perhaps best known as a world-renowned science fiction writer, starting with the first story he sold professionally, “Rescue Party”, which was written in March 1945 and appeared in the magazine Astounding Science in May 1946.

His body of work contains more than 70 books of fiction and non-fiction, and he received numerous awards for his writing. Clarke’s most famous non-fiction work as a futurist may be the book Profiles of the Future, based on a series of essays he started writing in 1958 and published in book form in 1962. In the book he envisioned the probable shape of tomorrow’s world, including a timetable of possible inventions from the present to the year 2100. He often incorporated his visions of the technological advances in the near future into his science fiction writing. A prime example of this is his 1979 novel Fountains of Paradise, which describes the construction of a space elevator, a giant structure rising from the ground and linking with a satellite in a geostationary orbit. While concepts for various kinds of space elevators had been discussed for decades, Clarke helped bring the idea to the larger public consciousness and envisioned a future where the use of space elevators to lift payloads to orbit would make rocket launches obsolete. 2001: A Space Odyssey – Official Trailer [1968] Clarke strived to engage audiences in different media.

In 1964, he started working with the noted film producer Stanley Kubrick on a science fiction movie script. The result of the collaboration was the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was released in 1968 and is widely recognized as one of the most influential films ever made. Clarke and Kubrick were nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for the film. Clarke also wrote a novelization of the film; the resulting book, which is based on the early drafts of the film and differs from it in some ways, also came out in 1968. Clarke published a sequel, 2010: Odyssey Two, in 1982, and worked with director Peter Hyams on the movie version, which was released two years later. One of the notable aspects of this collaboration was the very advanced way (for the time) it was done: using a Kaypro computer and a modem to link Arthur Clarke in Sri Lanka and Peter Hyams in Los Angeles. This novel approach was described later in the book The Odyssey File – The Making of 2010.

Clarke worked for decades in television, bringing scientific and engineering achievements to people’s homes across the world. He worked alongside Walter Cronkite and Wally Schirra for the CBS coverage of the Apollo 12 and 15 space missions in the United States. His TV series Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World (1981), Arthur C. Clarke’s World of Strange Powers (1984), and Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious Universe (1994) have been shown in many countries around the world. Clarke also contributed to other TV series about space, such as Walter Cronkite’s Universe series in 1981. Arthur C. Clarke, the Humanist Arthur Clarke was always interested in the future of human race, not only in terms of what that future might look like, technologically speaking, but also in terms of what kind of a world we, the current inhabitants of our home planet, would leave to the future generations. As a result, Clarke was always concerned about the relationship of the human race to the natural world around it. An expression of Clarke’s interest in the interaction of humans with nature was his enthusiasm for scuba diving.

Clarke’s undersea explorations connected the purely personal enjoyment of the activity to history of the areas he explored. For example, in 1956 he discovered the underwater ruins of the original Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, during a scuba diving expedition with the photographer Mike Wilson. Clarke was devoted to making sure the next generation would receive the best education possible. He not only influenced young minds through his writing but also worked in formal education. He served as the Chancellor of the Moratuwa University in Sri Lanka in 1979-2002 and as the first Chancellor of the International Space University in 1989-2004. Clarke was concerned about global climate change and what effect it may have on the future of humanity. He always stressed the urgent need for humanity to move beyond the use of fossil fuels, which he considered one of our most self-destructive behaviors. Yet Clarke was always optimistic about the future of humanity; he firmly believed that technological achievements would solve our current problems and lead to a better and brighter future for the entire human race.

It is Clarke’s optimism for the future that made him an ideal spokesperson for the importance of people across the globe working together to solve the problems of today and create a better world for all of humanity. The organizations carrying Clarke’s name, from the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation to the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Science Education, are proud to continue Clarke’s legacy of inspiring the present and future generations of Earth, our home planet. IEE Sri Lanka, News Page 136 IEE Sri Lanka - New Rules Posted: 14/08/2003 With the change in structure of the Membership, the IEE Sri Lanka changed its rules in February 2003. Election of this year's office bearers will be based on tthese Rules . 135 IEE Sri Lanka - Annual Conference Posted: 13/08/2003 The Annual Technical Conference of the IEE Sri Lanka will be held on Saturday 30th September 2003 at the Hotel Galadari, Colombo. Many high quality papers in the areas of electrical power, electronics, communications, computers and manufacturing will be presented during the conference.

134 IEE Sri Lanka AGM Posted: 13/08/2003 The Annual General Meeting of the IEE Sri Lanka is scheduled to be held on Friday 29th September 2003 at Hotel Galadari, Colombo. 133 IEE Sri Lanka - Short courses in July/August 2003 Posted: 13/08/2003 The IEE Sri Lanka organised and conducted 7 short courses lasting 2 to 3 days during July and August 2003 at its Office at the IESL Premises. Radar [Radar Principles; Types of Radar; Transmitter and Receiver:-Pulsed & MTI; System Implementation; Clutter; SSR; SAR; Electronic Counter Measures] Mr Kithsiri Samarasinghe, Prof Indra Dayawansa, Athula seneviratne on 8th, 9th and 10th July Navigation [VOR; DME; Radio Altimeter; ADF, GPS] Mr Athula Seneviratne 14th, 15th July Microwave Communication [Coax., waveguides, microstrip tr.

lines; Line of Sight links; Microwave devices: Semiconductor devices, Tubes; Sat.Com.; VSAT; GPS] Prof Indra Dayawansa, Dr Dileeka Dias 16th,17th, 18th July Electronics [Analog:- Diode circuits, Signal Amplifiers, Power Amplifiers, Oscillators, PLL; Digital:- Combinational Logic, Sequential Logic; Electronic equipment maintenance] Dr Pani Dharmawardena, Dr Priyantha Thilakumara 22th, 23rd, 24th July Computer Systems [Computer Hardware; Operating Systems; Computer Networks] Dr Ajith Pasqual, Dr Chulantha Kulasekara 5th, 6th, 7th August Power Electronics [AC Power Control, Power Supplies, UPS] Dr Amith Munindradasa, Dr Pani Dharmawardena 12th, 13th, 14th August Antenna Design [Wire antennas:- Dipole, Loop, V-antenna, Rhombic antenna, Log-periodic antenna.

Antenna Arrays; Aperture antennas:- Horn, Dish Microstrip antennas] Dr Amith Munindradasa, Prof Indra Dayawansa 19th, 20th, 21st August 132 IEE YMS Sessions at Moratuwa Posted: 06/08/2003 The Annual Technical Sessions of the Younger Members Section of the IEE Sri Lanka will be held on Saturday 30th August 2003 at the University of Moratuwa. All students and members of the IEE are cordially invited to attend the sessions. High quality papers are expected to be presented as in the recent past. 131 Seminar on Project Management - IEE Sri Lanka Posted: 29/07/2003 An IEE Sri lanka seminar on "Project Management" will be conducted by 3 eminent academics who have specialized on the topic at the VIP Lounge, Hotel Galadari, at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 29th July, 2003. "The project approach has been the style of doing business in the construction, aerospace and defence industries. However, application of Project Management techniques are being extended to many other industries.

For example, the impact of Project Management is most profound in the area of Information Technology". This seminar will discuss the necessary tools and techniques to become a good Project Manager, with particular emphasis on the application of Time Management and Risk Management in project situations. All of us, especially those in positions of responsibility are going to benefit from the Seminar. Open to all members of the IEE Sri Lanka. Overview of Project Management by Dr. Niranjan Gunawardena Time Management : Prof. Ananda Jayawardena Risk Management: Prof. Malik Ranasinghe 130 IEE Faraday Lecture Screening at Moratuwa Posted: 29/07/2003 The 2003 IEE Faraday Lecture Fighting Crime with Science will be shown at the University of Moratuwa on Thursday 31st July 2003 commencing 1600 hrs. All computer science & engineering, electrical engineering, and electronic & telecommunication engineering students and all others are welcome to attend this video/CD presentation. The presentation has been arranged by the Younger Members Section of the IEE Sri Lanka at the University of Moratuwa.

129 IEE YMS 2003 - Call for papers Posted: 11/07/2003 The Annual Younger Member Sessions of IEE Sri Lanka will be held at the Department of Electrical Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering University of Moratuwa on August 23rd, 2003. This provides a forum for the presentation of undergraduate projects and postgraduate project/research work. The Secretary, IEE YMS Sri Lanka has invited you to send an abstract of your work before 20th July 2003. For details An award will be made to the author of the best paper presented at the Sessions on the basis of its content and quality of presentation. 128 IEE Sri Lanka Visits the Colombo Dockyard Posted: 11/07/2003 Members of the IEE Sri Lanka visited the Colombo Dockyard on Saturday 5th July 2003. This was a sequel to the lecture given by Mr mangala Yapa the General Manager of Colombo Dockyard to the IEE Sri Lanka on Manufacture of boats at the Hotel Galadari on June 24th. The visit was well appreciated by all present.

They were also taken on a ride around the harbour in a boat built by Colombo Dockyard. They were also able to visit the Indian Oil Rig which was in the dry docks for maintenance. 127 e-Sri Lanka Posted: /05/2003 A half-day Seminar on e-Sri Lanka was held on 27th May 2003 being organised by the IEE Sri Lanka in association with the Computer Society of Sri Lanka. The seminar created an awareness among members of IEE Sri Lanka and CSSL on the e-Sri Lanka vision and its action plans while generating and active dialogue on issues, particularly of infrastructure issues pertaining to the implementation of the program. Over 100 persons participated in the seminar. The speakers at the forum were : Mr Eran Wickramaratne : IT Advisor to the Ministry of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology. Prof. Rohan Samarajiva : Team Leader, Public Interest Program Unit, Ministry of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology. Mr Ana L Ponnambala : Independent Consultant/Telecommunications Engineer.

126 Design of Electrical Installations Course Posted: /04/2003 The ever popular short course on IEE Wiring Regulations was conducted jointly by the IEE Sri Lanka and the IESL at the IESL premises. It ran on 9 consecutive Saturdays commencing 26th April 2003. The course was conducted for the ninth time and was heavily oversubscribed. 125 Visit to a Mini-hydro Project Posted: /04/2003 A Site Visit was made to the 2250kW Small Hydro Power Project - Kabaragala was made by members of IEE Sri Lanka on Saturday 05 April 2003.

[Location - Medapity Oya in Padiyapelella (off Hanguranketha)] 124 Panel discussion On The Upper Kotmale HydroPower Project Posted: 24/03/2003 The Institution Of Electrical Engineers, Sri Lanka (IEE Sri Lanka) and The Sri Lanka Association of The Institution of Civil Engineers (SLAICE) held a Join Panel discussion On The Upper Kotmale HydroPower Project on Friday, 21st March 2003 at 5.15 p.m, at The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Panel Members Eng. K.L. Ariyananda, Former Chairman CEB Eng. M.

Chandrasena, Former Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation,Power and Highways 123 IEE Sri Lanka - Senior Members Day - An Update Posted: 20/03/2003 Posted: 24/03/2003 The Senior Members Day 2003 of the IEE Sri Lanka was a resounding success with brief talks from their lively careers being given by four of the Past Chairmen of the IEE Sri Lanka, namely Mr H S Subasinghe [held many posts at the Department of Government Electrical Undertakings (DGEU) and its successor the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) rising up to the rank General Manager, Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Power, and serving as the founder Chairman of LECO], Mr T D M A (Aelian) de Silva [presenlty a Chartered Consulting Electrical Engineer; author of many technical terms in Sinhala; held posts an Engineer at the DGEU, Chief Engineer at Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka, General Manager of Lanka Transformers Ltd, Chairman of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Coconut Processing Board], Mr L W de Silva [held many posts at the DGEU and the

 CEB rising up to the rank General Managerand Vice Chairman; instrumental in the establishment of Lanka Transformers Ltd].

and Mr H E G F (Eardley) de Silva [presently working for International Water Management Institute; engineer at the DGEU and the CEB, General Manager at Richard Peiris & Co and management consultant to Arthur C Clarke Centre]. The vote of thanks was also given by one of the past Chairmen Prof K K Y W Perera. One of the most Senior Past Chairmen living, Mr Joe Varnakulasinghe's name had been inadvertently left out from the list of invitees to talk about their experiences and will be invited for the next such event. We apologise to him for the error. Mr Hetti Gunawardena who was to be invited for the event passed away recently. 122 IEE Sri Lanka - Site Visit to Small Hydro Power Project - Kabaragala Posted: 13/03/2003 A Site Visit to a Small Hydro Power Project - Kabaragala has been arranged on Saturday 05 April 2003 by the IEE Sri Lanka.

[Location - Medapity Oya in Padiyapelella (off Hanguranketha)] 121 Senior Member's Day - 19th March 2003 Posted: 11/03/2003 An Ordinary General Meeting of IEE Sri Lanka will be held at the VIP Lounge, Hotel Galadari, at 5.15pm on Tuesday 19th March 2003. It is a day dedicated for our Senior Members who have served the Institution for many years. The main event of the day will be the Presentation by 4 Past Chairmen of IEE Sri Lanka Branch. They will speak on their Professional Experiences which will be of great value to the membership. 120 IEE Sri Lanka Workshop for School Children -2003 - Update 2 Posted: 21/02/2003 The Academic Staff and students of the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering, and Computer Science & Engineering of the University of Moratuwa conducted the 2nd Workshop for Schools on 20th February at the University Premises on behalf of the IEE Sri Lanka.

Around 150 advanced level school children from 10 schools from the Southern Province and about 15 teachers participated in this one-day workshop. Mr D R Pullaperuma Chairman, IEE Sri Lanka, Prof Malika Ranasinghe Dean/ Engineering, Prof Priyantha Wijayatunga Dean/Information Technology, Prof Mrs Indra Dayawansa Secretary, IEE Sri Lanka & Organiser of the Event, Prof Rohan Lucas Immediate Past Chairman, IEE Sri Lanka & Head/Electrical Engineering, Dr Mrs Dileeka Dias Head/Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering, Dr Ashok Peiris Head/Computer Science & Engineering, and Dr Pani Dharmawardena were present at the inauguration. Some pictures of the event 119 Getting your message through by Mr Niranjan de Silva - an update Posted: 21/02/2003 The presentation on Getting Your message through was successfully delivered to a very attentive audience at Hotel Galadari. The points made were very relevant to both the young and the old. About 60 persons were present.

118 IEE Sri Lanka Workshop for School Children -2003 - an Update Posted: 17/02/2003 The IEE Sri Lanka, in association with the departments of Electrical Engineering, Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering, and Computer Science & Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, will hold the 2nd Workshop for Schools on 20th February at the University of Moratuwa Premises. About 135 advanced level school children and about 15 teachers from the Southern Province will participate in this one-day workshop. The 1st Workshop was held in 2002 for schools in the Western Province. The programme includes presentations by Senior Staff of the ICE group, undergraduate project presentations and hand-on-sessions. 118 Programme for School Children at University of Moratuwa Posted: 03/02/2003 TheIEE Sri Lanka has organised a programme for about 100 advanced level students and their teachers from a number of schools in the island on Thursday 20th February 2003.

They are assisted in this venture by the IEE Younger Members Section and the departments of electronic & telecommunication engineering, electrical engineering and computer science & engineering. 117 Restructuring of the Power Sector - an Update Posted: 29/01/2003 The colloquium on Restructuring of the Power Sector, organised by IEE Sri Lanka, was successfully completed on 28th January 2003 at Hotel Galadari from 1630 hrs to 2015 hrs followed by a dinner. The following Resource persons Prof KKYW Perera (Secretary, Ministry of Power), Mr M Zubair (Chairman, CEB), Mr DC Wijeratne (General Manager, CEB), Mr Nihal Wickremasuriya (Manager, Reforms), Mr WALWA Perera (General Manager, LECO), Dr P N Fernando (former Manager, Energy division, ADB), and Dr Susantha Perera (President, Engineers Union, CEB) spoke on related topics prior to the discussion. The Colloquium was Moderated by Professor Priyantha Wijetunga, Professor in Electrical Engineering.

The Minister of Power & Energy, Hon.Karu Jayasuriya also addressed the gathering. Pictorial view 116 Getting Your message through Posted: 16/01/2003 Seminar on "Getting Your message through" will be presented by Mr Nirajan de Silva, Past President - Colombo Toastmasters Club, and Director/CEO - Metropolitan Group of companies on 18th February 2002 at Hotel Galadari. This will be particularly of benefit for the Young Engineers. 115 Colloquium on Restructuring the Power Sector Posted: 16/01/2003 The half day colloquium on Restructuring the Power Sector has been organised by IEE Sri Lanka on 28th January 2003 at Hotel Galadari from 1630 hrs to 2030 hrs followed by a dinner.

The following Resource persons Prof KKYW Perera (Secretary, Ministry of Power), Mr M Zubair (Chairman, CEB), Mr DC Wijeratne (General Manager, CEB), Mr Nihal Wickremasuriya (Manager, Reforms), Mr WALWA Perera (General Manager, LECO), Dr P N Fernando, Mr Ranjith Fernando and Dr Susantha Perera have agreed to make short presentations on relevant topics prior to the discussion. The colloquium is open to the IEE members on a first reserved basis and special invitees. The event is partially sponsored by the Ceylon Electricity Board. 114 IEE Branch Communication Conference Posted: 16/01/2003 Prof Mrs Indra Dayawansa has been nominated by the IEE Sri Lanka Branch to attend the IEE Branch Communication Conference in London to be held on 27th February 2003. At this conference discussions will take place between selected branches from the UK and overseas on matters related to the running of the Branches.

113 Senior Member's Day Posted: 16/01/2003 The IEE will be holding its first Senior Member's Day on Wednesday 19th February. It has been decided to invite the following Past Chairman of the IEE Sri Lanka Branch - Mr H S Subasinghe, Mr Hetti Gunawardena, Mr Eardley de Silva, Mr L W de Silva, Mr Aelien de Silva - for the inaugural event to share their professional experiences with the membership. 112 IEE New Logo Posted: 19/12/2002 The IEE has a new Logo which will be introduced in January 2003. It has been developed from the IEE's own initials to create a unique logo - a symol of the brand not a mere group of three letters. The word "The" has been inserted into the symbol to emphasise the IEE's uniqueness and importance. The Symbol is based on bold block lettering to emphasise the new IEE's confidence and commitment to progress. Turning the letters through ninety degrees is also an expression of boldness, confidence and modernity.

The new logo will clearly symbolise that the IEE has not only moved into the 21st century but is determined to be a vibrant part of it. [Extracted from the IEE news December 2002.] 111 IEE Diaries for 2003 Posted: 13/12/2002 The IEE diaries for 2003 for current members in Sri Lanka has just been received by the IEE Sri Lanka. Current members of the IEE may collect their Diaries from the IEE Office at the IESL Premises during office hours (5 pm to 7pm on weekdays or on weekends) by producing the IEE membership card for 2003 and their National Identity card. They are advised to first contact the office by telephone (678630).

110 Talk on ADSL - Technology for Broadband Internet Access Posted: 11/12/2002 Mr Priyanka Undugodage, Head of IP and Broadband Services, Business Development Division - Sri Lanka Telecom will deliver a lecture on ADSL - Technology for Broadband Internet Access at Hotel Galadari, Saloon Orchid Room at 5.15 p.m. on Tuesday 17th December 2002. 109 IEE YMS field visit to Kukuleganga project Posted: 02/12/2002 IEE YMS has arranged a field visit to Kukuleganga project on 14th December 2002. Fifty students will be participating from University of Moratuwa, University of Peradeniya, University of Ruhuna and Open university of Sri Lanka.

108 Lightning Workshop - An Update Posted: 02/12/2002 The Third Annual Workshop on Lightning Protection - November 2002, jointly organised by the Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka and the IEE Sri Lanka was successfully held on 29th and 30th November 2002 with over 165 participants who took an active part in the proceedings, at Galadari Hotel, Colombo. Details and Pictures . 107 IEE Recruitment Drive Posted: 30/11/2002 The University of Moratuwa IEE Sri Lanka - Younger Members Section organised a recruitment programme to the IEE at the University of Moratuwa on Wednesday 27th November 2002. The immediate past Chairman of IEE Sri Lanka, Professor Rohan Lucas and the Honorary Secretary of IEE Sri Lanka, Professor Mrs Indra Dayawansa spoke to the gathering about the IEE and the YMS respectively. Over 50 students, mainly from Level 2, participated in the event. Students in Electrical, Electronics, Communications, Computer, Information Technology and Manufacturing Engineering are invited to join the IEE as student members.

106 IEE Sri Lanka Chairman's Lecture - 2002 Posted: 12/11/2002 Mr D R Pulleperuma, IEE Sri Lanka Chairman for the Session 2002/03 will deliver the "IEE Sri Lanka Chairman's Lecture" on Utility Communications - Past, Present and Future at the Hotel Galadari on Tuesday 26th November 2002. He is presently the Additional General Manager (Commercial) of the Ceylon Electricity Board. 105 Third Workshop on Lightning Protection Posted: 24/10/2002 The Third Workshop on Lightning Protection - 2002 is jointly organised by the Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka and the IEE Sri Lanka, at Hotel Galadari, Colombo on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th November 2002. Click here for the Brochure in pdf format. Closing date 20th November 2002.

105 IEE Sri Lanka - 66th AGM - An Update Posted: 21/10/2002 The AGM of the IEE Sri Lanka was held on Sunday 20th October 2002 at Hotel Galadari, Colombo with Professor Mellitt, Immediate Past President of the IEE and over 50 members attending the function. The Office Bearers were elected uncontested. The Minutes of the previous AGM in 2001 were confirmed. The annual report for the session just completed was also presented. The draft accounts for 2001/02 and the audited accounts for 2000/01 were also discussed and accepted. This was followed by the election of the Auditors for 2002/03 and the address of the new Chairman of the IEE Sri Lanka, Mr D R Pulleperuma. The Proceedings concluded with an address by Professor Brian Mellitt and the Vote of Thanks.

104 Visit of the IEE Presidnet - An Update Posted: 21/10/2002 The IEE President 2001-02 Prof Brian Mellitt arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday 18th October 2002 in the early hours of the morning. His visit had been delayed by 24 hrs due to unavoidable circumstances. Regretably the visit to the University of Peradeniya could not be rescheduled and had to be cancelled due to this unforeseen event. Prof Mellitt attended the Inauguration of the IESL Sessions at the BMICH as the guest of honour and delivered a brief address. He also visited the Techno 2002 Exhibition. Later he had lunch with the Vice Chancellor, Dean/Faculty of Engineering, Dean/Faculty of Information Technology, and the Heads of Department of Electrical, Electronic & Telecommunication, and Computer Science & Technology of the University of Moratuwa. Also present were the Chairman/IEE Sri Lanka and the IEE Student Councellor/University of Moratuwa.

In the afternoon he had a discussion with the academic staff of the three departments and was shown a sample of student projects undertaken at various levels and had discussions with students of the three departments in the respective laboratories of the University of Moratuwa. In the evening he visited the IEE Office in the premises of the IESL and had a fruitful discussion with the committee members for 2001-02. On Saturday 19th, he attended the International Seminar organised by the IESL and also presented a paper and chaired a session. In the afternoon, as we knew that Professor Mellitt was greatly interested in Cricket, he was introduced to Mr Neil Perera (a former Secretary of the Board of Control for Criket in Sri Lanka and a Manager of the Sri Lanka Cricket team for many years) and taken to the Board of Control for Cricket and shown trophies won by the Sri Lanka Cricket Team and was also taken to the SSC Cricket grounds . Later in the evening he was hosted to a cultural show and dinner by the IESL. On Sunday 20th October, Professor Mellit was the Chief Guest at the AGM and Annual Luncheon of the IEE Sri Lanka where he also enjoyed some oriental music.

He was presented a souvenir of the World Cup 1996 engraved cricket bat. 103 Annual Luncheon of IEE Sri Lanka Posted: 15/10/2002 Professor Lakshman Ratnayaka (President, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka), Professor Dayantha Wijesekara (Chairman, Institution of Civil Engineers - Sri Lanka Branch), Engineer S T Perera (Chairman, Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Sri Lanka Group) and Dr Ray Wijewardena, have been invited as Guests of Honour for the Annual Luncheon of IEE Sri Lanka at Hotel Galadari on Sunday 20th October 2002. Professor Brian Mellit (President, Institution of Electrical Engineers) will be the chief guest. The Annual Luncheon follows the AGM of IEE Sri Lanka scheduled for 1100 hrs. 102 Locals benefit from the IEE Benevolent Fund Posted: 02/10/2002 I am happy to report that during the period of my Chairmanship of the IEE Sri Lanka (October 2000 to September 2002) three worthy persons have received financial support from the IEE Benevolent fund.

The Benevolent fund assists those members of the IEE who are in financial need, and their dependants, after obtaining an evaluation of their situation from an honorary officer of the IEE in the particular local area. The Benevolent Fund gives one-off financial assistance to members who have temporarily fallen on hard times (such as one who has been approved for a one-off grant of around Rs 100,000 due to temporary periods of unemployment) or a weekly grant for those who need additional financial help or both(such as in the cases of a retired senior member who has a medical defect but otherwise leads a very normal life, and the dependants of a member who is in a semi-conscious state, who need some regular medical attention). The IEE Benevolent Fund is entirely dependent on donations and legacies from individuals and does not receive any statutory funding. Since the beneficiaries of the Fund in the future can be even you or me, I would like to end my term of office, and this news item, with an appeal on behalf of the Fund for your annual contributions to the Benevolent Fund while you are in a position to do so.

Question: Who is the popular author who served as Chancellor of Moratuwa University in Sri Lanka from 1979 to 2002?
Answer: Arthur C. Clarke